Sherman planning to apologize to QB
Richard Sherman said he will apologize to Baker Mayfield after he erroneously said the Browns quarterback refused to shake his hand before the coin toss Monday prior to the 49ers’ 313 win.
“I’m going to have a conversation with him and then I’m kind of going to be done with it,” the 49ers cornerback said. “It’s just funny it got so big. I was like, ‘Man I thought the football game was what they watch.’ It’s a soap opera.”
After the game, Sherman told NFL Network that Mayfield ignored his handshake when the captains met at midfield. However, videos showed Mayfield shook hands with the 49ers’ captains. After the coin toss, Mayfield sprinted to Cleveland’s sideline while other team captains shook hands again.
"That's some college s,” Sherman said of Mayfield’s snub Monday night. “It's ridiculous. We're all trying to get psyched up, but shaking hands with your opponent — that's NFL etiquette. And when you pull bush league stuff, that's disrespectful to the game. And believe me, that's going to get us fired up.”
On the “Pat McAfee Show” podcast Wednesday, Sherman said Mayfield “definitely deserves an apology, and my bad on that.” Sherman said he planned to reach out to Mayfield via text or a phone call, but he declined to completely dismiss the pregame interaction as a nonissue.
“I felt disrepect and at the end of the day that’s all the story was, really,” Sherman said. “Like, people can say, ‘Oh my God, he shook your hand’ or ‘Oh my God you were wrong.’ You can say whatever you want. I don’t give a damn.”
Mayfield, who was arrested for public intoxication in 2017 in an incident that was captured on video, told Cleveland reporters on Wednesday he was happy to be vindicated.
“I know what I did,” Mayfield said. “That’s the one time the camera recording me has gone in my favor.” Rookie recognized: Rookie edge rusher Nick Bosa was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his dominating performance in his fourth career game, the 49ers’ 313 win over the Browns on Monday.
Bosa’s reaction to the recognition? Yawn. When asked about the award, he paused five seconds before offering the equivalent of a verbal shrug.
“Couldn’t care less,” Bosa said. “I’m just trying to keep playing. And winning.”
The No. 2 pick became the first 49ers player in 25 years to have two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a game, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Bosa also had five quarterback hits and forced an intentionalgrounding penalty that replay showed should have been ruled a sack.
Bosa is the 49ers’ first NFC Defensive Player of the Week since rookie linebacker Chris Borland in 2014. Borland was the last 49ers offensive or defensive player to earn an NFL player of the week honor. Injury report: Pass rusher Dee Ford (knee tendinitis) was limited in practice after he played 17 of 49 snaps Monday. Ford missed two practices before the past two games because of his chronic knee issue, but played in both, participating in 33 of 102 snaps. Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.